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Kemer

Kemer and its surroundings are not only famous as a holiday resort; the region is also still popular for its oranges orchards. Especially in the month of April, the unique scent of orange blossom lingers in the air.

The slopes of the Toros Mountains and the Mediterranean surround the village. With a coastline of 52 km Kemer is one of Turkey’s most important touristic areas.
Today’s city centre was called “Old Village” in former times. The name “Kemer” originates of a 23 km long wall (“kemer”= belt), which was constructed in 1916 -1917 to protect the village from the floodwater coming from the mountains.
Until the 1960s Kemer was reachable only from the seaside, by boat, as were many coastline villages in Turkey during this time. The road along the mountains was constructed later. In the 1980s - during the years of developing tourism - the region prospered with a project financed by the World Bank.

But despite a developing tourism, the area is still full of nature and the blue of the Mediterranean seems to mix up with the green of the pine trees. Only the coastline of this region of Antalya bears many small bays and small natural harbours and the sea is bright blue and clear.

Marina
Kemer is also popular for yacht tourism, probably because of the combination of temperate climate and the shelter provided by our beautiful mountains, making it one of the best places for wintering yachts.
Yacht charter and day trips are available and from cafés and restaurants close by you have a good view to the yachts anchored at Kemer Marina.http://www.kemerturkizmarina.com/

Moonlight Beach – Ayışığı Park
Located on the right side of the Yacht harbour this area offers the only sandy beach with various cafes and bars providing sun loungers. At some spots the use of the sun loungers may be free of charge according to consumption.

Yörük Park
The Yörük- Nomad’s Park is situated between Marina and Moonlight Beach. Along with the adjoining bay it is a charming and delightful spot hidden under old pine trees, where you may relax having a typical Nomad’s drink, “Ayran”.
The word Yuruk (Yörük) derives from the Turkish word for walking (yurumek)http://www.yorukparki.com.tr/eng/index.html

Diving
Kemer is also a popular destination of those who love diving. The clarity of the water, allowing visibility of 25 metres, is very suitable and also there are various reefs in the area.
At the entrance of the opening at Gelidonya Point there is an ancient wreck, some 3,500 years old. The ancient amphorae recovered from here are on display on the Bodrum Underwater Museum. The shipwreck is still there and in order to protect ancient items diving with oxygen tanks are not allowed.
Listed among the world’s top 100 dive sites is the wreck of “Paris 2”, a warship from World war first. An artillery unit sank the ship in 1917. Since the wreck was discovered in 1995, it has become an important attraction for divers.

Shopping
Kemer’s most fashionable shopping street is the Liman Caddesi, which leads directly to the Yacht Harbour and Moonlight Beach. In many of the shops prices a not fixed and the best shopping result is question of your “haggle” capacities. Take your time
In Antalya there are several big shopping malls featuring international brands.

Events
There are some major events organized in Kemer during various periods of the year. We will try to provide up to date information here and also on Facebook. Very famous is the Enduro race “Sea to Sky”, which is organized by a major sponsor. All the events and information about them is due to changes and has to be considered only as general information. Please contact us for further details.

HistoryIdyropolis
The name of the city located here in ancient times was Idyropolis. Idyropolis was founded in the 3rd century BC where the current Ayışığı (Moonlight) Park is located. Archaeologists from the Antalya Museum excavated it in 1976 and 1977. There are remains of Byzantine walls, doorways and a church. Part of a mosaic covering the floor of the church can still be seen.

Seljuk Hunting Lodge
On the right hand side of the forest area in the entrance to the town from the Antalya direction, there is the Seljuk era Av Köşkü (700 years old Hunting Lodge). It is hidden in the forest and it is the only example of Seljuk architecture in the region.

Museums in Antalya

Antalya has several museums and art galleries and we are giving here information about the museums in the centre. They are all located close to the main landmark of the city, the clock tower.

A short walk to the west leads to the Cumhuriyet Meydanı (Republic Square). To make the access to the old part of Antalya (Kaleiçi) easier, a Panoramic Elevator was constructed. It connects the heart of the city, the Cumhuriyet Meydanı, with the Kaleiçi and the Yacht Harbour. An observation platform in front of the elevator is a perfect photo point, offering a stunning view over the bay and the Toros Mountains. The elevator is about 30 m high and the use is free of charge. The access from the Yacht harbour is just next to the Toy Museum.

The Toy Museum was inaugurated in the year 2011 on the 23rd of April, which is Children’s day in Turkey and a national holiday. With an exhibition area of 700 square meters and lovingly displayed toys from Turkey and many other countries it is Turkey’s second largest Toy Museum. The good old Teddy is as much at home here as dolls or cars and many other toys, some of them 100 years old or even more. Mickey Mouse and Cinderella are ready for a photo session and also Mr Spock is somewhere around.
Open daily except Mondays. Antalya Oyuncak Müzesi İskele Caddesi, Kaleiçi ,Yat Limanı

In a former Post Office Building and very close to the Toy Museum, the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality established the Marine Biology Museum. Here approximately 500 species of marine animals including three of the 15 endangered species such as Angel Shark (Squatina cicuvelatata) are on exhibit.
Open daily except Mondays. Antalya Deniz Biyoloji Müzesi, Kaleiçi, Yat Limanı

The Antalya Stove Museum is located in a historical part of the city, which is called Sobacılar Çarşısı (Stove and Blacksmiths Bazaar). Among the different stoves from Turkey and other countries, there is also a "Salamander Stove". This is a small portable type of stove, which was manufactured in France in the years 1900 to 1950. The so called “Kuzine Soba”, a wood-burning stove is a very typical example for Anatolia. For many people it bears memories of childhood and the smell of roasting chestnuts. In Turkey, these types of stoves were first used in the Black Sea Region.
Open daily except Mondays. Balbey Mah. Demirciler İçi No 11 T (0)242 248 88 06

Myra & St NicholasAccording to lore, in the age of 19 Nicholas was consecrated as a priest by his uncle, Bishop Nicholas of Myra. He was the abbot in the monastery of Sion near his hometown. When his parents died of the plague, Nicholas inherited their wealth and distributed it to the poor. So he could help several young women from his neighborhood in his hometown of Patara (175 km from Kemer) by secretly throwing money through the window or through the chimney. Therefore still today Nicholas is regarded as a donor of gifts and as a good friend of the children.After the death of his uncle, Nicholas undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Upon his return, the town Myra elected him as the new bishop. Legend depicts him as a spirited leader and at the same time as a man who was able to mediate diplomatically.From the 15th century the legend of the grain traders started to spread. According to this legend, during a famine in Myra St Nicholas requested 100 bushels from each vessel destined for the emperor in Rome and assured that through his prayer nothing of the freight would be missing at delivery. For years to come he was so able to feed his community and even handing out seeds.There was also a Bishop Nicholas in Pinara near to today’s Fethiye and the legends about this Nicholas and the abbot Nicholas of Sion near Myra mingle. But it is St Nicholas of Myra who lives in our memory as a savior, patron saint, great gift-giver and friend of all people.His church - the restored Nicholas Basilica in today's Demre (99 km von Kemer) is visited every year by many pilgrims and by tourists spending their holiday in our region.Nicholas of Myra is the patron saint of many nations and professions. He is the patron saint of students, pilgrims and travelers, lovers and women giving birth, the elderly and the children, but also those who are imprisoned innocent. St Nicholas of Myra should not be confused with "Santa Claus" who waspopularized in America.Myra – (or Demre)- was at that time located directly by the sea. But the mud of the Demre River, which makes this area fertile ever since, gradually covered the settlement and the shoreline moved some kilometers to the south, so that Nicholas Church is located inland today.